Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God

When the bored shinigami Ryuk drops his Death Note into the human world, Light Yagami, a top student fed up with crime, finds it and starts writing names to eliminate criminals. His method quickly reshapes his life and his sense of right and wrong, drawing intense scrutiny from police and the cryptic detective known only as L. As their intellectual duel tightens, allies and rivals are pulled into a tense moral standoff, and personal relationships strain under secrecy and ambition. This film condenses episodes 1 through 26 of the original series into a brisk recap with alternate footage, emphasizing the psychological clash without revealing later outcomes. Misa and Light's family complicate the situation emotionally and dramatically.

Released in 2009, Death Note Relight 1 was directed by Tetsuro Araki and adapts material created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, with Yasuko Kobayashi credited for the screenplay. It's presented as a condensed retelling rather than a new sequel.

As a compilation TV movie the title wasn't positioned for major theatrical earnings, so there are no notable box office figures to report; it reached fans mainly through television broadcasts and home video releases. Home video distribution widened its reach.

Death Note's central conflict and the image of Light versus L became a reference point for psychological battle stories in anime. This retelling reinforced key scenes for newer viewers and kept discussions about justice, authority, and obsession alive across fandoms. Cosplayers, fan art, and online debates kept the franchise prominent.

Reviews and fan response often praise the voice cast and tense confrontations, while noting that the condensed format trims character moments. Themes include the corrupting nature of absolute power, the ethics of vigilantism, and how intelligence can be used to manipulate systems. Others recommend watching the whole series for nuance.